REDUCTION OF LASER-INDUCED CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION BY INTRAVITREAL VASOHIBIN-1 IN MONKEY EYES

Purpose: To determine whether intravitreal vasohibin-1 will reduce the grade of the choroidal neovascularization in monkey eyes. Methods: Choroidal neovascularizations were induced in 12 monkey eyes by laser photocoagulation. Three monkeys were evaluated for the safety of the vasohibin-1 injections, 6 monkeys for the effects of a single injection, and 3 monkeys for repeated injections of vasohibin-1. Ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography, focal electroretinograms, and optical coherence tomography were used for the evaluations. The level of vascular endothelial growth factor in the aqueous was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemistry was performed. Results: An intravitreal injection of 10 mu g of vasohibin-1 induced mild intraocular inflammation. Eyes with an intravitreal injection of 0.1 mu g and 1.0 mu g of vasohibin-1 had significant less fluorescein leakage from the choroidal neovascularizations and larger amplitude focal electroretinograms than that of vehicle-injected eyes. Similar results were obtained by repeated injections of 0.1 mu g of vasohibin-1. Immunohistochemistry showed that vasohibin-1 was expressed mainly in the endothelial cells within the choroidal neovascularizations. The vascular endothelial growth factor level was not significantly altered by intravitreal vasohibin-1. Conclusion: The reduction of the laser-induced choroidal neovascularizations and preservation of macular function in monkey by intravitreal vasohibin-1 suggest that it should be considered for suppressing choroidal neovascularizations in humans. RETINA 32:1204-1213, 2012